Removable stamp holder for stamping machine

ABSTRACT

A stamping machine has a frame including a bed along which articles to be stamped are intermittently advanced to be momentarily positioned at least one stamping station for stamping. A stamp assembly is positioned at each station and includes a stamp holder that is pivotally secured to the frame at one side of the bed to extend transversely above the bed and be movable to and from the bed to stamp articles that may be momentarily positioned on the bed at the stamping position. Each stamp holder has two spaced apart side members extending across the bed between which a stamp head is removably secured by Lshaped slotted pivot means.

[4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 United States Patent [191 Schaeffer 3,115,269 12/1963Rasmussen... 3,180,253 4/ 1965 Hildmann 3 ,432,967

[ REMOVABLE STANIP HOLDER FOR STAMPING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Nerle J.Schaeffer, Silver Spring,

Assignee: National Geographic Society,

Primary Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dos T.Hatfield Washington DC.

[57] ABSTRACT A stamping machine has a frame including a bed along whicharticles to be stamped are intermittently advanced to be momentarilypositioned at least one stamping station for stamping. A stamp assemblyis positioned at each station and includes a stamp holder that ispivotally secured to the frame at one side of the bed to extendtransversely above the bed and be mov- 22 Filed: Sept. 9, 1974 21Appl.No.: 504,284

able to and from the bed to stamp articles that may be momentarilypositioned on the bed at the stamping position. Each stamp holder hastwo spaced apart side [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSmembers extending across the bed between which a stamp head is removablysecured by L-shaped slotted pivot means.

220/331 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures nu mm m SAM 409 45 999 HHH 25 7600 94 907 06 22 US. Patent 001. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,911,813

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,911,813

Sheet 3 of3 3,911,813

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 FIG.4

REMOVABLE STAlVIP HOLDER FOR STAIVIPING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Stamping machines for printing, embossing or stamping articlessuch as book covers, cards or photograph slides with suitableidentification indicia are well known and may include multi-stationarrangements in which the article to be stamped is passed successivelyto two or more stamping positions where stamping heads are conjointlyreciprocated to stamp each article at the respective position with therespective indicia carried by each stamping head. In the situation wherea large number of photograph slides are to be stamped with subjectidentification or numerical indicia, it is sometimes desirable to changeor omit the stamp or one stamping head for a few slides and it is,therefore, desirable that the stamping assembly at each station includea stamp holder that will enable a stamp head to be easily inspected orremoved so that the machine may continue to operate with or withoutselected stamp heads in position in the respective stamp holders. Thusindicia can be easily omitted on desired slides simply by removing astamp head and operating the machine with an empty holder. Also it isdesirable that the stamping heads may be quickly removed, inspected orchanged without stopping the operation of the machine for excessivelylong periods of time when a large number of slides are to be stamped.

PRIOR ART The following listed patents disclose multiple stationstamping machines but do not disclose the improved stamping assembly ofthis invention including a stamp holder and head arrangement asdescribed and claimed herein:

67 ,748 Greene et al 8-13-67 2,205,216 Loughery 6-18-40 3,180,253Hildmann 4-27-65 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with theinvention, a stamping machine for stamping the cardboard frames ofphotographic slides or the like is comprised of a machine frame having abed along which each slide is intermittently advanced to be momentarilyand successively positioned at at least one stamping station. A stampingassembly is positioned at each station and is comprised of a stampholder pivotally secured at one end to the machine frame in a manner toextend transversely above the bed and be movable to and from the bed forstamping a photographic slide frame that is momentarily positioned onthe bed at the stamping station. Each stamp holder is comprised of twospaced apart side members extending from the pivoted end of the holderand the end opposite the pivoted end is joined to a reciprocating rod bymeans of which the stamp holder is moved to and from the bed. The rodfor each stamp holder is connected to a crank and each crank is gearedtogether to a common drive motor, whereby the stamp holder at eachstation is reciprocated in synchronism with the advancement to andmomentary positioning of each slide at the respective stamping station.It will be understood that the photograph slide or article advancingmeans is also geared to and driven by the common drive motor by anysuitable means well known in the art.

The spaced apart side members of each stamp holder, in accordance withthe invention, are provided with pivot slots in which are receivedrespective pivot pins extending from a stamping head that is removablypositioned between the spaced apart side members. Thus, a stamp head maybe easily secured in place or removed from the stamp holder. A springpressed locking bolt to cooperate with a suitable keeper on the stampholder may be provided to lock the stamp head in the stamping positionbetween the side members of the stamp holder.

Further objects, features and the attendant advntages of the inventionwill be apparent with reference to the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective elevationalview of the stamping machine of the invention with stamping heads instamping position in the stamp holders;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the stamp holderswith a stamp head raised in position for inspection or removal;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the stamp head removed;

FIG. 4 is an underside view of one stamp holder as removed; and

FIG. 5 is an underside view of another stamp holder as removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the stamping machine is comprised of a box-like framestructure generally shown at 10, having a bed or track portion 1 1 alongwhich are to be intermittently advanced the articles to be stamped, suchas the photograph slide frame 12 in the magazine 13. Slots l4, 15 arepositioned on each side of the bed 11 to extend along its length and aplurality of spaced apart spring-pressed pivoted drive pawls, such asshown at 16, 17, 18 and 19, are positioned in the respective slots 14,15. The pawls l6, 17 are spaced from pawls 18, 19, by an amount equal tothe advancement distance for each slide during each cycle of stampingoperation. Additional drive pawls (not shown) are spaced along the bed 11 from the positions of pawls 18, 19 towards the stamping positions 20,21 and the discharge end 22 of the machine. All of the drive pawls, suchas 16-19 are pivotally connected to a carrier (not shown) beneath thebed 11 which is connected by suitable bellcranks to the drive motor (notshown) in a manner to be reciprocated back and forth by a distance equalto the incremental advancement distance for the slides and the spacingbetween the center-lines of the stamping stations 20, 21. When the drivepawls are moved toward the stamping stations, a slide is engaged andmoved from the storage bin 13 towards the stamping stations and when thedrive pawls are reciprocated away from the stamping stations, the drivepawls pivot under the driven slide, thus leaving the slide in theadvanced position, either approaching a stamping station or at arespective one of the stamping stations 20, 21. The details of the drivepawl mechanism will not be further described since they are not a novelportion of the present invention and similar drive pawl arrangements areshown by the previously mentioned US. Pat. Nos. 2,205,216 and 3,180,253.

If the stamping or embossing is to include printing, a printing tape iscarried by a supply reel 31 and a slipclutch continuously driven take-upreel 32 over the bed 11 and beneath the stamping assemblies to befurther described in detail. The tape 30 passes under the stamp headsand between the printing tape advancement rollers 33, 34. The roller 34is intermittently released and allowed to be turned by the operation ofa pawl 35 and ratchet 36 during each stamping cycle, as will be furtherdescribed.

A first stamping assembly is positioned at stamping station 20 and ispivotally connected at one end at 40 to the machine frame 10 on one sideof the bed 11 in a manner to extend transversely across and above thebed 11 as shown. Similarly, a second stamping assembly is pivotallyconnected at one end at 41 to the machine frame 10. The other end of thestamping assembly at station 20 is pivotally connected at 42 on theother side of the bed 11 to reciprocating connecting rod 43, while theother end of the stamping assembly at station 21 is pivotally connectedat 44 to the reciprocating connecting rod 45. Connecting rods 43, 45 areconnected to cranks 46, 47 which are connected by sprockets and chains48, 49 to the common drive motor (not shown) in a manner such that theassociated stamping assemblies are moved towards the bed 11, while anarticle to be stamped is momentarily positioned at a stamping stationand the drive pawls, such as shown at 16-19, are moving away from thestamping stations. During the cycle of stamping operation, the pawl 35carried by the side member of the stamping as sembly 20 cooperates withthe ratchet wheel 36 and roller 34 to advance the printing tape.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the details of the novelstamp holder arrangement of the invention will be described. FIGS. 2 and3 are detailed views of the stamp holder at station 20, but it should beunderstood that the stamp holder at station 21 is the same except fordimensions. For example, the stamp holder at station 20 is sized to holdany suitable stamp head which may contain an automatic sequencingnumbering wheel of well known construction by L-shaped slotted pivotmeans, as shown diagrammatically by FIG. 5, while the stamp holder atstation 21 is sized to receive a stamp head to accommodate a printingplate or the like as shown by FIG. 4. The stamp holder at station 20 iscomprised of the first end member 50 that is pivotally secured, asgenerally shown at 40, to the machine frame 10 and the second end member51 that is pivotally secured at 42 to the connecting rod 43. A pair ofspaced apart side members 52, 53 extend between end members 50, 51 toreceive therebetween a stamp head 54. Each side member 52, 53 isprovided with respective pivot slots 55, 56 in which may be receivedrespective pins 57, 58 extending from opposite sides at one end of thestamp head 54, as shown. When the stamp head 54 is to be attached to thestamp holder, the pins 57, 58 are first inserted in the upward extendingportions 55a, 56a of the pivot slots 55, 56. Thereafter, the stamp head54 is moved to move the pins 57, 58 along slot portions 55b, 56b to theposition most clearly shown by FIG. 1 with the stamp head 54 lowered andlocked in place by the spring pressed bolt 59 and the keeper 60 in theend member 51. Thus, when it is desired to inspect the stamp head 54, itis only necessary to unlock the bolt 59 and pivot the stamp head upwardsto the position shown by FIG. 2. If the stamp head is to be removed, itis only necessary to withdraw the pins 57, 58 through the slot portions55a, 56a, as shown by FIG. 3 of the drawing. It should be understoodthat the stamp head is secured between stamp holder side members 71, 72at stamping station 21, as shown by FIG. 1, in a similar manner to thatjust described for stamp head 54 in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 of thedrawings.

FIG. 4 is an underside view of stamp head 70, generally showing themeans for securing thereto the desired stamp indicia in the form of anembossing or printing plate 73. FIG. 5 is an underside view of the stampholder 54 showing a sequence numbering wheel 75 that may be removablysecured within the channel of holder 54 in any suitable manner with setscrews or the like (not shown). The numbering wheel 75 is provided witha sequence drive pin (not shown) that protrudes in a well knownarrangement beneath the holder 54 to engage the bed 11 when the stampholder is moved towards the bed for stamping and thus advance andsequence the number character wheels as each stamping cycle occurs.

Upon consideration of the foregoing description, it will be understoodthat the stamp holder arrangement of the invention provides a verysimple and effective means to removably secure one or more stampingheads in the machine. For example, when only numbering of the slides isdesired, the stamp head 70 can be quickly and easily removed from theholder at station 21 and the machine can be operated with the stampholder at station 21 not containing a stamp head and therefore notapplying any descriptive material to the slide frame that may bemomentarily positioned at stamping station 21. Similarly, the stamp head54 may be removed from the stamp holder at station 20, when numbering ofthe slide frames is not desired.

Various modifications within the teachings of the invention will occurto those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamping machine of the type having a frame including a bed alongwhich articles to be stamped are intermittently advanced to bemomentarily positioned at least one stampingstation, the stampingassembly at each station comprising, a stamp holder pivotally connectedat one end to said frame on one side of said bed in a manner to extendtransversely of said bed above the path of movement of the articles onsaid bed and to be movable to and from said bed, means connected to theother end of said holder opposite said pivotally connected one end forreciprocating said holder to and from said bed for stamping an articlepositioned on the bed beneath said holder, each said holder having twospaced apart side members extending between its ends, means to removablysecure a stamp head in each holder in stamping position between each ofsaid side members and comprising an L-shaped pivot slot in each sidemember formed with an upwardly extending portion, and pivot pinsextending from opposite sides of the stamp head and adapted to beremovably received through the upwardly extending slot portions intorespective ones of said pivot slots, whereby the head may be received instamping position between said side members with the pins received inthe slots and may be pivoted out of stamping position between said sidemembers and removed with the pins removed through the upwardly extendingslot portions.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which bolt means is provided on eachstamp head to removably engage with keeper means on a respective holderfor locking the head in stamping position between said side members withthe pivot pins received in the pivot slots.

1. A stamping machine of the type having a frame including a bed alongwhich articles to be stamped are intermittently advanced to bemomentarily positioned at at least one stamping station, the stampingassembly at each station comprising, a stamp holder pivotally connectedat one end to said frame on one side of said bed in a manner to extendtransversely of said bed above the path of movement of the articles onsaid bed and to be movable to and from said bed, means connected to theother end of said holder opposite said pivotally connected one end forreciprocating said holder to and from said bed for stamping an articlepositioned on the bed beneath said holder, each said holder having twospaced apart side members extending between its ends, means to removablysecure a stamp head in each holder in stamping position between each ofsaid side members and comprising an L-shaped pivot slot in each sidemember formed with an upwardly extending portion, and pivot pinsextending from opposite sides of the stamp head and adapted to beremovably received through the upwardly extending slot portions intorespective ones of said pivot slots, whereby the head may be received instamping position between said side members with the pins received inthe slots and may be pivoted out of stamping position between said sidemembers and removed with the pins removed through the upwardly extendingslot portions.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which bolt means isprovided on each stamp head to removably engage with keeper means on arespective holder for locking the head in stamping position between saidside members with the pivot pins received in the pivot slots.